Abstract

In a randomised, double-blind, 22-week trial 400 patients with dementia associated with neuropsychiatric features were treated with Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 (240 mg/day) or placebo. Patients with probable Alzheimer's disease, possible Alzheimer's disease with cerebrovascular disease or vascular dementia were eligible if they scored 9 to 23 on the SKT cognitive test battery and at least 5 on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). EGb 761 was significantly superior to placebo with respect to the primary (SKT test battery) and all secondary outcome variables. The mean composite score (frequency x severity) and the mean caregiver distress score of the NPI dropped from 21.3 to 14.7 and 13.5 to 8.7, respectively, in the EGb 761-treated patients, but increased from 21.6 to 24.1 and 13.4 to 13.9, respectively, under placebo (p < 0.001). The largest drug-placebo differences in favour of EGb 761 were found for apathy/indifference, anxiety, irritability/lability, depression/dysphoria and sleep/nighttime behaviour.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Scripnikov A, Khomenko A, Napryeyenko O, GINDEM-NP Study Group

Institution

Poltava Regional Psychiatry Hospital, Poltava, Ukraine.

Source

Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946) 157:13-14 2007 pg 295-300

MeSH

Aged
Alzheimer Disease
Cardiovascular Agents
Dementia
Dementia, Vascular
Double-Blind Method
Geriatric Assessment
Ginkgo biloba
Humans
Middle Aged
Neuropsychological Tests
Phytotherapy
Plant Extracts
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome

Pub Type(s)

Comparative Study
Journal Article
Randomized Controlled Trial

Language

eng

PubMed ID

17704975